About

Last Days of Coney Island

$174,195

1,290

Groundbreaking Director Ralph Bakshi Returns with New Animation, New Characters, and New Stories in "Last Days of Coney Island Part One"!

Hi. My name is Ralph Bakshi - the writer and director of such films as Fritz the Cat, Coonskin, Hey Good Lookin', Heavy Traffic, Wizards, American Pop, Cool World, Fire and Ice, and Lord of the Rings.

Actor Matthew Modine Has Joined 'Coney

Best known as "Pvt. Joker" in Stanley Kubrick's FULL METAL JACKET, Modine recently played "Deputy Commissioner Peter Foley" in Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and can next be seen as John Sculley in jOBS, the Steve Jobs biopic starring Ashton Kutcher.

Modine is no stranger to indie animation; having lent his voice to the Academy Award-nominated A CAT IN PARIS, MIA AND THE MIGOO, and two short films (SANTA, THE FASCIST YEARS and THE FLYING HOUSE) by Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton.

Modine will voice the lead character, a 4-foot-tall mafia collector who thinks he's Elvis Presley and sings like Chet Baker.

Shorty (Tsukasa Kanayama)

These are rough character sketches Ralph draws and gives out to the animators to design:

Latest Development Drawings:

"Louie, Max, and Molly" Original Character Designs by Ralph Bakshi

"Supreme Team" by Tsukasa Kanayama

"King Edwarf" by Tsukasa Kanayama

New "LDCI" T-Shirt Logo Design by Tsukasa Kanayama

"La Famiglia" by Tsukasa Kanayama

"Wild Pitch" by Tsukasa Kanayama

"Shorty Singing" by Tsukasa Kanayama

Jinx the Clown and Spider Boy Scope out a Juicy Mark (JoJo Baptista)

Max and Louie Getting Information the Old-Fashioned Way (JoJo Baptista)

PRIZE UPDATES:

RALPH BAKSHI PAINTINGS AND CONSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE CHECK "UPDATES" TAB FOR MORE INFO ON PRIZES

In my films I have always discussed America: who we are, what we are, for better and worse, and the ridiculous. I’m here on Kickstarter asking for your support for my newest project,Last Days of Coney Island.

It takes place in a 1960s Coney Island populated with crooked cops, broken hearts, jaded strippers, and singers.

"Max and Molly" by Colleen Cox and Ralph Bakshi

Original Background By Ralph Bakshi

"Lowlives" character concepts by JoJo Baptista

The stories take place on and around Coney’s garish, freaky midways and in it's dark alleyways. They discuss America: Kennedy’s assassination, the mafia, Bobby Dylan, Vietnam, Dick Tracy, Miss America, and more.

Coney Island Boardwalk

Eddie Bakshi

Bakshi Productions producer Eddie Bakshi, who produced Ralph's first political youtube short, "Trickle Dickle Down", is managing the shorts.

Producer - Eddie Bakshi

Colleen Cox

New BPI lead animator, Colleen Cox, is an animator and cartoonist from Lake City, Michigan. She lived in Singapore for two years before making New York City her home.

Animation by Colleen Cox Background by Ralph Bakshi

Colleen Cox - Lead Animator

Tsukasa Kanayama

New storyboard artist Tsukasa Kanayama is an animator born and raised in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In 2007 he made Brooklyn, New York his home.

Shorty - "Be My Girl" by Tsukasa Kanayama

Joseph Baptista

New character animator Joseph "JoJo" Baptista is a designer, storyboard artist and animator living in Hollywood, California. He has a degree in animation from Woodbury University, and apprenticed under Stephen Worth at Animation Resources.

Max with Gun by Joseph Baptista

Ian Miller

Outstanding illustrator and background artist, Ian Miller ("Wizards") will be lending his talents to the project as well.

Scorch by Ian Miller

It’s as real as it is crazy and funny. Each animated short is a complete story. If we get this first one done -- with your help -- maybe the rest will follow and we will have a full-length feature. All of this material will be screened on the web where I belong. Last Days of Coney Island, Part One needs you.

**(Access to the pre-release screening of LDCI will be offered when the short is complete. This is estimated to be 6-8 months after funding goal is met, and is also dependent on final funding totals.)

Bakshi Productions Inc., is very excited to offer to our fans and supporters broad access to the "Bakshi Vault". In the vault are artistic treasures that are looking for a good home.

What's better than seeing brand new Bakshi animation, and getting a Wizards cel to go with it?!

$150LEVEL:

In addition to the Full Digital Package, a Coney' Dvd, a doodle, and a Wizards Poster, you will receive a copy of a LDCI background, and you can choose an original production drawing from any one of these FIVE classic, Bakshi films/TV series* (You are allowed to specify your top three character/scene choices, due to limited availability)

*Coonskin, Wizards, Lord of the Rings, American Pop,
and Mighty Mouse!

Blackwolf's soldiers from "Wizards."

Gandalf from "Lord of the Rings."

Frodo and Samwise from "Lord of the Rings."

Jimi Hendrix from "American Pop."

$200 LEVEL:

In addition to the FDP, you can choose an original cel from any one of the same films:

Brother Bear and Miss America from "Coonskin."

Max and Fritz from "Wizards."

Gandalf and Saruman from "Lord of the Rings."

Jimi Hendrix from "American Pop."

Mighty Mouse from "The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse."

$250 LEVEL:

In addition to the FDP and a signed print of one of Bakshi's famous animated characters, donors at this level will receive (2) ORIGINAL signed character sketches by Bakshi & (1) Cel:

$400 and $500 LEVEL:

In addition to the FDP and either a hand-signed character print or an animation cel, you will receive a personalized copy of Ralph's book Unfiltered with a unique hand-drawn doodle by Ralph:

Unfiltered with "Avatar" from "Wizards" Sketch

$1000 LEVEL:

In addition to the FDP and an animation cel, you will receive an original piece of concept artwork from American Pop by Louise Zingarelli:

Louise Zingarelli - "American Pop"

Louise Zingarelli - "American Pop"

Louise Zingarelli - "American Pop"

$1250 LEVEL:

Along with the FDP and an animation cel, donors at this level will receive an original background layout drawing from Lord of the Rings:

1: "Inn at Bree" Lord of the Rings background drawing by Mike Ploog (pencil on paper, 1977) SOLD OUT

$2000 LEVEL:

In addition to the FDP and an animation cel, you will receive an original conceptual painting or background from Lord of the Rings, Cool World, or American Pop by Barry Jackson, OR an "American Pop" promotional poster concept by Louise Zingarelli:

In addition to the FDP, two animation cels, a signed copy of Unfiltered, an original Bakshi painting, and your face as extra in the animation, you will receive your choice of a mixed-media construction (12" x 18") from "The Streets", Ralph's last art show in SoHo:

Thank you.

Risks and challenges

Ralph Bakshi of Bakshi Productions, Inc., has completed every one one of his features on-time and on-budget. He is more than qualified to tackle a several minute short with the budget he receives through this campaign.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $35 or more
About $35

Access to the video blog of the animation’s progress, three downloadable hi-res LDCI wallpapers, access to a pre-release internet screening of the short**, a thank you email,
&
AN ORIGINAL, Autographed BAKSHI character doodle on card, or animation paper.

****ALL BACKERS AT $35 or higher will NOW have a doodle automatically added to their order at no extra cost*****

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 50 or more
About $50

The Full Digital Package: Your own digital copy of the short after its release, access to the video blog of the animation’s progress, three downloadable hi-res LDCI wallpapers, access to a pre-release internet screening of the short**, and a thank you email.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

The NEW Full Digital Package! For $5 more you get the Full Digital Package along with a signed DVD of "Last Days of Coney Island" upon it's release* (this replaces the Full Digital Package in all higher level pledges).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $80 or more
About $80

Ralph Bakshi will critique your animation or drawings and give you feedback. (This level includes the Full Digital Package, Signed 'Coney DVD, Wizards Poster, and signed original Bakshi Doodle) In addition, all backers at $80 and above will receive the option of the CRITIQUE as well.